| Werewolves have been a prominent staple of | | | | Perhaps the earliest werewolf myth comes from |
| mythology in many cultures throughout history. This | | | | classic Greek Mythology. Lycaon was a cruel king |
| is particularly true in many Native American cultures, | | | | who tried to play a trick on Zeus by serving him |
| who believed that people could often shape-shift into | | | | food which contained the remains of a small child. |
| many other animals besides wolves. | | | | When Zeus found out about this, he became |
| A werewolf is usually a creature that is half-man, | | | | extremely angry and turned Lycaon into a wolf. He |
| half-wolf. Each culture's mythology is very different | | | | then proceeded to kill all 50 of Lycaon's sons. |
| on the specifics. Sometimes the man can change into | | | | Werewolf stories were even more common |
| a wolf voluntarily by wearing a magic belt or drinking | | | | throughout medieval Europe, and they were often |
| water from the footprint of a wolf. Other times, he | | | | associated with vampire stories. Serial murders were |
| can be put under a curse by a god or a witch. | | | | often explained as being the work of vampires or |
| Sometimes, a man might turn into a werewolf | | | | werewolves. Many cultures believed that werewolves |
| because he fell asleep under a full moon. Often, a | | | | were the forerunners of vampires, and that when a |
| scratch or a bite from another werewolf can cause | | | | werewolf died; his corpse came back as a vampire. |
| someone to become a werewolf themselves. | | | | For this reason, most people who were suspected to |
| A werewolf generally has heightened senses and | | | | be werewolves were cremated rather than buried. |
| strength which is beyond that displayed by either a | | | | Werewolves continue to enjoy popularity even to |
| man or a wolf. | | | | this day in books and movies. Werewolf in London, |
| Werewolves do usually have vulnerabilities, however. | | | | The Wolf Man, and Wolf are a few films that |
| One of the most common is a severe aversion to | | | | achieved widespread success. Teen Wolf was a film |
| silver. Often, werewolves can only be killed by | | | | from the 80's that took a lighter look at werewolves. |
| shooting them with a silver bullet. Sometimes, silver | | | | The blockbuster Twilight series which is so popular |
| knives or silver-tipped canes can also be employed to | | | | today also features werewolves. In earlier movies, |
| inflict damage upon a werewolf. In some variations, | | | | the trend was to make the werewolves appear |
| werewolves are so sensitive to silver that even | | | | extremely anthropomorphic, but more recent films |
| touching it can cause burns, and even the sight of it | | | | portray them as huge wolves. |
| can cause nausea. | | | | |